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Summary

Syntax

watch(prop, handler)

Parameters

prop

The name of a property of the object.

handler

A function to call.

Description

Watches for assignment to a property named prop in this object, calling handler(prop, oldval, newval) whenever prop is set and storing the return value in that property. A watchpoint can filter (or nullify) the value assignment, by returning a modified newval (or by returning oldval).

If you delete a property for which a watchpoint has been set, that watchpoint does not disappear. If you later recreate the property, the watchpoint is still in effect.

To remove a watchpoint, use the unwatch method. By default, the watch method is inherited by every object descended from Object.

The JavaScript debugger has functionality similar to that provided by this method, as well as other debugging options. For information on the debugger, see Venkman.

In NES 3.0 and 4.x, handler is called from assignments in script as well as native code. In Firefox, handler is only called from assignments in script, not from native code. For example, window.watch('location', myHandler) will not call myHandler if the user clicks a link to an anchor within the current document. However, the following code will call myHandler: